Small Business Saturday

Miranda Paul, Michael Leannah, Max Garland & Gavin Schmitt

On Small Business Saturday® in 2016,
112 million shoppers
showed their love for their favorite spots, and spent a
reported $15.4 billion at small businesses like The Reader’s Loft.

*Source: American Express

Reader’s Loft will
open its doors with four Wisconsin authors whose work continues to enlighten
and shape our communities.

Miranda Paul and
Michael Leannah will kick things off with back to back story time readings of
their latest picture books for children. Miranda Paul is tireless in her pursuit
to affect children’s curiosity through words and will be reading one of her new
books, The Great Pasta Escape (August 2017). This book is a funny story about
a diverse group of pasta living togetherin a pasta factory. Conflict
arises when the pasta figure out the real consequence of making it onto the shelves
of grocery stores and what happens once
selected by shoppers. This book is a hilarious story about teamwork!

Michael Leannah is
the author of Something for Everyone: Memories of Lauerman Brothers
Department Store (May, 2013) and Most People (August 2017). Most
People was a New York Times noted picture book illustrating empathy that is
a courageous, constructive response to the dystopian world of the news media.
The story is meant to reassure children that most people are not the sum of
what we see in the media.

The afternoon will
continue with a poetry reading from Max Garland, Wisconsin Poet Laureate
2013-2014. The World We Used for It
(October 2017) is a book of Wisconsin poetry that honors the grit of creatures
both animal and human, bearing up in the face of mounting odds against them. He
suggests that imagination itself requires grit, to be called upon when the more
spectacular angels are otherwise occupied.
Max currently lives in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

The Small Business
Saturday celebration will conclude with a reading from local true crime
historian Gavin Schmitt. Gavin is a
life-long Fox Cities native. He is the author of six books on local history and
true crime, and has been described as an excellent researcher and the go-to
expert on organized crime in Wisconsin and surrounding areas. Gavin has turned
his magnifying glass on the Fox Valley through his new book, Fox Cities
Murder and Mayhem (November 2017).

In addition to
reading events Miranda Paul, Michael Leannah, Max Garland, and Gavin Schmitt
will be engaging with shoppers with suggestions from their personal list of
favorite titles for the gift giving season. Guests will receive a 20% discount
off titles written by and/or suggested by the authors! And, as always, the
Reader’s Loft staff will be available offering fun giveaways, treats and
suggestions of their very own.

Schedule
of events:

11am – 1pm: Miranda Paul and Michael Leannah
story time for kids!

2pm – 3pm: Max Garland, Wisconsin
Poet Laureate 2013-2014

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Gavin
Schmitt, local true crime historian

Here’s what happens when you “shop local.”

1. More of your money will be kept in your local economy

For every $100 you spend at locally owned businesses, $68 will stay in the
community. What happens when you spend that same $100 at a national chain? Only
$43 stays in the community.*

2. You embrace what makes your community unique

You wouldn’t want your house to look like everyone else’s in the U.S. So why
would you want your community to look that way?

3. You create local jobs

Local businesses are better at creating higher-paying jobs for your
neighbors. When you shop locally, you help create jobs for teachers, firemen,
police officers, and many other essential professions.

4. You help the environment

Buying from a locally owned business conserves energy and resources in the
form of less fuel for transportation and less packaging.

5. You nurture community

Local business owners know you, and you know them. Studies have shown that
local businesses donate to community causes at more than twice the rate of
chains.

6. You conserve your tax dollars

Shopping in a local business district means less infrastructure, less
maintenance, and more money available to beautify your community. Also,
spending locally instead of online ensures that your sales taxes are reinvested
where they belong— in your community!

7. You create more choice

Locally owned businesses pick the items and products they sell based on what
they know you like and want. Local businesses carry a wid­er array of unique
products because they buy for their own individual markets.

8. You took advantage of their expertise

You are their friends and neighbors, and locally owned businesses have a
vested interest in knowing how to serve you. They’re passionate about what they
do. Why not take advantage of it?

9. You invested in entrepreneurship

Creativity and entrepreneurship are what the American economy is founded
upon. Nurturing local business en­sures a strong community.

10. You made your community a destination

The more interesting and unique you community, the more we will attract new
neighbors, visitors and guests. This benefits everyone!